Improvement in flumes for turbine wheels



W. M. MILLS. Plumes` for Turbine-Wheels. No. 215,278. Patiented May 13,1879.

N'FFERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAFH. WASHINGTON. D4 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM M. MILLS,

OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLUMES FOR TURBINE WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,278, dated May 13,1879; application filed I March 13, 1879.

'To all whom fit 'may concern:

' obstructions, which not only frequently stop or seriously impede therotation of the wheel, but also break the iloats or otherwise damage thewheel. lt is the purpose of my invention to obviate this difficulty byintercepting all such obstructions and preventing their passage throughthe wheel.

The novelty consists in introducing the head-water at a point in theilume below the level of the ingates of the wheel, so that all heavierforeign bodies, such as sand, gravel, or stones, are deposited in thebottom of the ilume and thereby prevented from passing through theWheel.

Italsov consists in the application to the flume of a grating locatedbetween the inlet opening of the flume and the ingates of the wheel,andbelow the level of the ingates of the wheel, whereby all floatingforeign bodies, such as sticks and the like, are prevented from passingthrough the wheel.

It finally consists in the construction and arrangement of the partsconducive to the object in view, all as will be herewith set forth andspecifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central sectional elevationof the pen-stock or fiume and contained wheel with my improvements. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same through the line x :v of Fig. l.

A represents the pen-stock or fiume, which in this case is an uprightcylindrical case made water-tight. B is the tail-discharge or drafttube,of proper length and capacity to carry oif the water in 4its passagefrom Athe wheel. This tube passes up centrally through the bottom of thefiume A, and terminates at a point midway between the top and bottomofthe ilume. Its top is flanged, as represented, and serves as a seatfor the wheel O, whose case rests thereon, as shown. At any point belowthe level of the gates of the wheel l introduce the headwater into theflume through the induction tube or pipe D, which is of proper capacityto furnish all the water required. This tube is provided with a suitableregulating Vvalve or gate and the ordinary or any suitable means ofoperating it, whereby the water may be in part or in whole shut off fromthe flume, as the occasion requires. The flume is also provided .with anoutlet-aperture, of a size sufficient to admit the passage of a mansbody, vif necessary. This aperture is covered by a suitable water-tightvalve or gate, E, which can be opened or closed from above by any'suitable mechanism and proper connections. The location of thisaperture is immaterial, further than its bottom should he nearly on, oron, a level with the bottom of the ilume.V F represents a spider orskeleton frame, tted around the drafttube at or near its top,

`and serving as a support whereon to rest a grating or screen,Gr, whichmay be of any suitable construction, though perhaps that shown in Fig. 2is the best. This grating I preferablyTv make in two, three, or moresections, so that if one of them should by any mischance be broken itcan be replaced without the trouble or expense of furnishing andapplying an entire new grating.

By lthis construction `and arrangement of the wheel, draft-tube, andinlet, the water, when admitted to the flume, rises init and fills it,and upon opening thegates of the wheel it escapes through the wheel,which it turns, and passes out through the draft-tube to the tail-race.

By elevating the wheel in the flume above the inlet-opening all theheavier foreign mat ters, such as stones, gravel, and sand, which areswept into the flume by the influx of the water are deposited upon thebottom ofthe flume, below the wheel, and cannot possibly get into thewheel to clog or injure it; and, by the employment of the grating orscreen, through which the water has to pass before it enters the wheel,all floating rubbish, such as sticks and the like, are caught andprevented from entering the wheel.

When the accumulation of rubbish in the flume clogs the grating to suchan extent as to interfere with the passage of water through it, whichfact is ascertained by the diminished power and speed of thewheel-spindle, the gates of the wheel and the gate or valve oftheinduction-pipe are closed. Now, upon opening the gate E the water inthe flume rushes out, carrying with it the rubbish, which, adhering tothe under side of the grating, clogged it. This frees the grating, andby leaving open the gate E and opening the induction-gate the waterrushes through the lower part of the ume and carries with it nearly ii'not all of the heavier accumulations, such as stone, gravel, or sand,which had settled on the bottom of the ilume. Whenever it is deemednecessary, a man can enter the flume through the gateway E and removeany heavy stones or other substances not carried out by the water.

While I have described and claim the application of the grating orscreen in the fiume, still it may be dispensed with without ati'eotingthe principle which my invention embodies; and

What I claim as new isA l. A Hume or pen-stock for turbine water wheels,having the wheel elevated within said iume, and having the opening forthe inflow of the water at a point below the level of the ingates of thewheel, whereby all sedimentary and foreign matters are deposited inthebottom of the ume and prevented from passing through the wheel, as setforth.

2. In a flume or pen-stock for turbine waterwheels, a screen or gratinglocated between the inlet-opening in said flume and below the level lofthe in gates of the wheel, whereby the water for running the wheel iscaused to pass through said grating in its passage to the wheel, andwhereby foreign bodies are caught and prevented from passing through thewheel, as specified.

3. In a penstock or fiume for turbine waterwheels, having the wheelelevated therein, and

having the opening for the inow of the water at a point below the levelof the ingates of the wheel, a discharge-outlet located at or nearthe'bottom oi' said pen-stock, whereby the accumulated rubbish may beremoved from the pen-stock, as specified.

Witness my hand this 20th day of February, A. D. 1879.

WILLIAM M. MILLS.

Witnesses GHAs. M. PECK, JAMES O. JEFFERYs.

